Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 15:49:23 -0400
Subject: HP Announces DP Benefits (fwd)
HP Press Release - HP To Offer Health-Care Benefits For Domestic Partners
Hewlett-Packard Company today announced that it will offer health-care
benefits to domestic partners of employees in the United States as early
as possible in 1997. Employees will be able to enroll their partners --
of the same or opposite sex -- as well as eligible children.
"The extension of health-benefits coverage to domestic partners
continues HP's ongoing efforts to create an inclusive environment,"
said Lewis E. Platt, HP chairman, president and chief executive officer.
"We're also enhancing our competitiveness as a great place to work so we
can attract and retain top talent."
HP will develop program details in the next few months. The company also
will review its other benefit programs and make them available to
domestic partners to the extent possible throughout 1997.
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing,
communications and measurement products and services recognized for
excellence in quality and support. HP has 108,300 employees and had
revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.
Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide
Web at http://www.hp.com.
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HP TO OFFER HEALTH-CARE BENEFITS FOR DOMESTIC PARTNERS
Hewlett-Packard announced May 23 that it will begin offering
health-care benefits to domestic partners of employees in the
United States as early as possible in 1997. Employees will be
able to enroll their partners -- of the same or opposite sex --
as well as partners' eligible children.
CEO Lew Platt said the extension of health-benefits coverage
to domestic partners continues HP's ongoing efforts to create an
inclusive environment. "We're also enhancing our competitiveness
as a great place to work so we can attract and retain top
talent," he said.
In broadening its health-care coverage to include domestic
partners, HP is joining a number of companies, universities and
other institutions that offer some form of domestic partner
benefits. Other companies include Apple Computer, Kodak, Levi
Strauss, Lotus, Microsoft, Northern Telecom, Novell, NYNEX,
Oracle, Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, Sybase and Walt
Disney.
The term "domestic partner" is defined by HP as two adults
of the same or opposite sex who are in an ongoing and committed
spouse-like relationship. They reside together and are jointly
responsible for each other's welfare and financial obligations.
Hewlett-Packard is still working out its eligibility
requirements for these benefits, which will be announced as
details are finalized.
HP also will evaluate the tax and legal implications for
similarly offering other benefits programs -- such as long-term
care, relocation and life insurance -- to domestic partners and
their eligible dependents to the extent possible. In some cases,
federal or state laws rule out such coverage. For example, under
current law, employees are generally prevented from covering
their domestic partner under the Health Care Reimbursement
Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account.
Hewlett-Packard in 1992 added sexual orientation to the
company's non-discrimination and harassment policies. Approved
guidelines for employee network groups were formalized in 1993.
Last year, beneficiary designations were revised to allow the
inclusion of domestic partners where possible under HP benefits,
and the funeral leave policy was changed to include domestic
partners.
At this time, domestic-partner benefits will be offered in
the United States only. Implementation in other countries may be
considered in the future based on factors such as government
policies and local cultures.
May 23, 1996 Corporate Communications